Almost every day of the road trip started with coffee and pastries. The day we set off to explore Langeland was no different: we got one of the last croissants of the day from Leanders Bagari in Svendborg (where our Airbnb host worked) and then stocked up on coffee and lunch from nearby Bager. 

Did you know that Denmark has approximately 1400 islands, of which just of 400 have names, and around 70 are permanently inhabited? Some are accessible only by boat but others, like Langeland, are reachable by bridges. We crossed over from Fyn (aka Funen), after our visits to Odense and Egeskov Castle, with two stops on the agenda for the day. 

Langeland is a place that’s probably not a common feature on most itineraries but which provided us with chance to be out in nature and freedom away from any crowds! First, we explored a little by car. The Danish countryside on these southern islands is really beautiful: full of wildflowers, windmills, sweeping landscapes and coastal views. 

Our first stop was a walk at Dovns Klint – the southernmost tip of Langeland. It’s a picturesque, quiet place and home to some wild Exmoor ponies which we used as a motivator for the kids but unfortunately didn’t manage to spot! 

Lunch and some stone throwing on the beach were blissful then our return walk took us via some woodland. The perfect kind of walk for little legs, with different terrains and plenty to look at.

Then we headed further into the Langeland countryside to Naturdestination Skovsgaard, an incredibly tranquil spot where nature meets history.   

Regrettably, we only had a couple of hours but we loved the peaceful time we spent there. First of all, we donned waders and collected nets and trays for some extreme (in)pond dipping.

Next, we followed the knowledgeable and enthusiastic Emil into the beautiful woodland to look for owls and frogs and then he left us to wander through the castle. 

And to finish with, Dean whittled a whistle for Small while Tiny and I stroked the goats!

There’s also all the stuff we didn’t have time for: bread and pancake making; and an indoor classroom with extensive interactive exhibits about different creatures on their biodiversity list of 99 species to spot (perfect for a rainy day); extensive marked hiking and nature trails through protected meadows and forests; and a large kitchen garden.

If you’ve read some of our other posts, you’ll know that the approach to family activities and childhood in general is very different in Denmark. Sharp tools and cooking equipment, including a stove, are left completely unattended: families are expected to know what to do with the aid of simple instructions, they’re accountable for their own safety, they’re trusted not to pinch anything, and are expected to clear up after themselves. We didn’t spot a single occasion where this hadn’t worked out.

We absolutely recommend Naturdestination Skovsgaard for a slow-paced immersive nature experience but learn from us and give yourselves more than a couple of hours!

Key information: closed Mon and Tue; there are a lot of ticket options but 0-6s go free, older children cost £9 / 75 DKK / €10 and adults £14 / 125 DKK / €17; there’s a well-reviewed café and a gift shop; you can stay on site in a range of different accommodation types; seasonal workshops are on the website.

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Langeland was just one stop in our 2.5 week road trip from Derbyshire (UK) to Copenhagen in Denmark. The full itinerary, using our own car, is below. I’ll come back and link in future blog posts as I write them. It was a great trip but, if we did it again, we’d add another night on the way up north to break the journey up, and possibly the same again on the way back down.

Day 1: home to Folkestone for our LeShuttle crossing; drive to Bailleul, France (or similar for 1 night) (a long travel day but broken up so it didn’t feel too bad)

Day 2: long travel day #1 – breakfast in France, lunch in Belgium at Chateau d’Hélécine (free bouncy castles and amazing playgrounds next to a lake and café) and dinner in Germany (stay 2 nights in Weilerswist or similar or stay in Cologne if preferred)

GERMANY

Day 3: visit Cologne

Day 4: long travel day #2 – Cologne to Fleckby (or similar for 1 night) via Bremen Rhododendron Park (playgrounds, walks and a pricey/busy café so maybe bring a picnic) 

DENMARK

Day 5: travel to Svendborg (4 nights) and visit Odense

Day 6: visit Ærø island by passenger ferry

Day 7: visit Egeskov Castle

Day 8: visit Langeland island (self-drive tour)

Day 9: visit Sagnlandet Lejre (Land of Legends) then travel to Roskilde (or similar or stay in Copenhagen if preferred for 2 nights)

Day 10: visit Copenhagen

Day 11: visit Lisleje Beach; travel to Askeby (or similar for 2 nights)

Day 12: visit Møn island (self-drive tour)

Day 13: long travel day #3 – Askeby to Lübeck (2 nights) via a stop in Heiligenhafen Pier

GERMANY

Day 14: visit Lübeck

Day 15: long travel day #4 – Lübeck to Oberhausen (or similar for 1 night) via a stop in Celle

BELGIUM

Day 16: visit Ghent, Belgium (stay 2 nights in Wingene or similar or in Ghent/Bruges if preferred)

Day 17: visit Bruges

Day 18: Bruges to home

All information is correct at the time of posting. Follow us on Instagram @four_go_exploring for more independent family adventures.